Wheel cover



Dec. 2o, 1949 G. A. LYON I 2,491,505

WHEEL COVER Filed May l2, 1945 Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .6 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel structure and more particularly to a novel wheel trim or cover therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved wheel cover for an automobile wheel wherein provision is made in the cover for automatically accommodating manufacturing variations in the parts of the wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved simplied form of metallic Wheel cover for an automobile wheel which lends itself to production on a large scale basis, such as by stamping in a punch press.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided in a cover structure for a wheel including a tire rim and body part a wheel cover for disposition over said parts and having an intermediate apertured part for enabling a central portion of the cover to be axially deflected toward the body part whereby said central portion may be detachably fastened or clamped to the body part of the wheel to retain the cover on the wheel.

Another feature of the invention relates to the forming of the aforesaid cover with a plurality of concentric portions, one for disposition over the flanges of the rim part of the wheel and the other for disposition over the body part of the Wheel, the two portions being connected by an apertured portion which enables the lateral deflection of the central portion into retained contact with the body part of the wheel.

`Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel structure embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through a portion of the cover yand showing how the central part of the cover may be deected laterally by reason of the apertures in the intermediate part of the cover.

As shown on the drawings:

In the accompanying drawings the wheel proper is more or less of a conventional construction. This wheel carries the usual pneumatic automobile tire and tube 8 and which includes the usual valve stem 9 projecting through one of the flanges of a tire rim I0. The tire rim I is of a conventional type and is known to the trade -as the drop center multi-ange type of tire rim. This rim is supported and carried by a central load bearing or body part I I which is suitably secured to the base ange of the tire rim I0 in a manner well known to those skilled in this art.

The body part II which comprises a dished or shelllike stamping includes an axially bulged nose I2 terminating in an inclined portion I3 which in turn ends in a generally radially extending bolt-on ange I4. This flange is adapted to be secured in the usual manner to a part of a Wheel such as a brake drum by means of cap screws, bolts or the like (not shown).

The bolt-on ange I4 carries a plurality of spring clips I5 which may be of any suitable number, such for example as three or four and are adapted in the conventional automobile structure to hold the hub cap on the wheel. Each of these spring clips I5 includes a turned free extremity I6 which is cooperable with the hub cap.

The spring clips I5 are of a type known to the trade as the inverted spring clip. That is to say, the extremity I6 is turned back upon the body of the clip at such an angle as to enable a resilient wedged clamping engagement of the hub cap with the body part of the wheel.

In the drawing as best shown in Figure 2, the hub cap which is preferably made of metal is designated generally by the reference character I'I and includes the usual central crown portion and an underturned retaining curled or rolled edge I8 adapted to be cammed over the high points of the free extremities I6 of the spring clips I5.

My invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a wheel cover for covering the exposed surfaces of the `wheel between the hub cap and the outer curled edge of the tire rim I0. I have designated this cover of my invention generally by the reference character 2D. It should be noted at this time that this coverI may be made of any suitable material although excellent results may be obtained by stamping it from sheet metal such for example as stainless steel or the like.

The cover 20 includes an outer annular portion 2i which extends generally radially and axially inwardly from an outer turned edge 22 to a point over the body part II of the wheel. The turned edge 22 overhangs the outer edge of the tire rim in close proximity to the outer side wall of the tire 8.

The arrangement of this portion 2| including its annular formation is such that in use it appears to constitutea continuation of the side wall of the tire. Moreover, if the outer surface of this portion 2| is given a White finish it will in use appear to constitute a White side wall part of the tire, in which event the tire appears to extend clear down to the bodi7 part I I of the wheel.

I also provide this portion 2| with an aperture 23 through which the valve stem 9 may extend in order to afford access to the valve stem without necessitating removal of the wheel cover from the wheel.

The annular cover portion 2| terminates in a goose-neck like portion 24 directly over the body part II. This goose-neck like portion 24 in reality constitutes a reinforcing rib which rigidifies the cover at an intermediate portion.

The portion 2li in turn is connected to a curved outwardly projecting rib portion 25 which is formed on the outer margin of a generally radially extending central portion 21, the inner edge of which is slightly turned at 28 so as to fit under and embrace the turned edge I8 of the hub cap. Taken together, the undulating annular respec-v tive, radially inwardly and radially outwardly humpedrib portions 2d and 25 provide a generally axially extending. juncture rib structure or flange between thel radially outer and radially inner cover portions 2l and 2l, the formation of the flange being of generally S-shape. The riblike portion 25 of the cover is provided with a plurality of apertures 26 for enhancing the flexibility of the portion 21 with respect to the remaining portions of the Wheel cover 2d. I have illustrated in, Figure; 3f how the portion 2T may be deflected axially `upon the application of pressure thereto such as the pressure of a hub cap being clamped thereagainst.

In the application of this cover to the wheel, the cover is first aligned with `the wheel so that the valve stern 9 projects through the aperture 23 thereof, and' so that the outer edge 22 is brought to loeary againstv the outer edge of therim of the wheel. Thereafter the hub cap is placed over theY center of the cover and is pressed axially inwardly toward the wheel Ibody part until it is snapped4 home into retained cooperation with the free extremities I 6 of` the spring clips I5. During this operation the inner portion Z'If of the cover is` deflected axially toward and into retained cooperation withv the body part IIr of the wheel. In. fact, it is. pressed into tight retained engagement with the nose l2 and the inclined portion I3 ofthe body part.`

This is: decidedly advantageous since it enables the cover to automatically accommodate for manufacturing variations in the rim and body parts of thev wheel. For example, in the fabrication of these parts, it: is permissible to hav-eas" much as one-eight of an inch variation vin the relativeI location' of' these. parts and with respect Y to the medial plane of the wheel.

The hubcapfmay ber easily removed from the wheel I'I by the usual pry off tool and after removal the Ycover 20- may" of course then be easily displaced from the wheel".

I claim as my invention:

l. As an article of manufacture, an annular wheel coverv adapted to be. applied: tothe outer side of a vehicle wheel including tire rim and" body portions, the cover mem-ber comprising' concentric annular'porti'ons and' an intermediate integral generally S-shaped juncture rib structure connecting said portions, the outer of saidl annular portions; being' adapted to lie in concealing relation tot. the tire rim and the. innerof saldi portions being: adapted to lie; in clamped All),y

relation between the wheel body and a hub cap applied to the wheel body and in such clamped relation to be placed in inwardly deflected tension, said S-shaped juncture comprising a radially inwardly bumped rib portion at the adjacent margin of the outer annular cover portion and a radially outwardly humped rib portion at the adjacent margin of the inner annular portion, said outwardly humped portion having an annular series of apertures therein rendering the same flexible while the inwardly bumped rib portion is yof unalfected rigidity so that the tensioned condition of the inner annular cover portion effects flexing of said apertured outwardly humped rib portion without substantially affecting said inwardly bumped rib portion or the outer portion of the cover annulus.

2. In a cover structure for a wheel including tire rim and body parts and in which the body part is provided with a hub cap adapted to be retained thereon by retaining means on the body part, an annular wheel cover for disposition between the hub cap and the rim and comprising concentric annular portions the central one of which has the inner margin thereof adapted to be engaged by the hub cap and to be deflected inwardly into the retaining cooperation with the wheel by the hub cap, said annular portions of the cover being connected by an undulating annular rib structure including a generally radially inwardly extending rib at the contiguous radially inner margin of the outer annular portion of the cover and a generally radially out-- wardly projecting rib at the radially outer margin of the central portion of the cover, said radially outwardly projecting rib being axially outwardly offset relative to thel radially inwardly projecting rib portion.

3f. In an annular cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel in covering rela-sv tion to the tire rim and an adjacent body portion of the wheel,A said annular cover including concentric annular portions the outer of which .is

adapted' to be disposed in covering relation to the tire rim and the inner of which' is adapted te beA disposed incovering relation to the wheel body and further adapted to beA flexed inwardly by engagement of. a hub cap for clamping the same to the wheel body, said annular cover portions having an integral intermediate radially facing off,- setting juncture ange of generally S-shaped cross section extending generally axially therebe-` tweenV andwith thel adjacent margins: of said cover portions being substantially offset axially by said juncture flange, saidjuncture flange having al series of apertures therein weakening thev same` for ready bending relative to said outer portion of the: cover upon deflection of said inner cover portion. y

4. In an annular cover for disposition at th outer side of a vehicle wheel in covering rela. tion to the tire rimf and an` adjacent Abody portion of the' wheel, said annular cover including concentric annular portions the outer of which is. adapted to be disposed inv covering relation to the tire rim andthe inner of which is adapted tobe disposed in covering relation to thevwheel body Y and further adapted to be, flexed,v inwardly by engagement.- of a hub cap for clam-ping the same. to thefwheel body,- said annular cover portions .having an integral intermediate offsetting juncture portionof generally S-shaped. cross section extending generally axially and. with the adjacent margins; ofsaid cover'portionslbeing substantielle lyf offset axiallyby said iu-rlture portion; said outer side of a vehicle wheel in covering relation to the tire rim and an adjacent body portion of the wheel, said annular cover including concentric annular portions the outer of which is adapted to be disposed in covering relation to the tire rim and the inner of which is adapted to be disposed in covering relation to the wheel body and further adapted to be flexed inwardly by engagement of a hub cap for clamping the same to the wheel body, said annular cover portions having an intermediate integral offsetting sjuncture portion extending generally axially and with the adjacent margins oi said cover portions being substantially offset axially by said juncture portion, said juncture portion being bendable relative to said outer portion oi the cover upon de- .L 5

flection of said inner cover portion, said interme-- diate oisetting juncture portion being bumped radially outwardly at the axially outer side thereof contiguous to the radially inner portion of the cover and extending radially outwardly beyond 3,

the axially inner area of said intermediate cilsetting portion, said radially outwardly bumped portion having an annular series of apertures therein weakening the same relative to said axially inner area whereby to render said bumped portion resiliently flexible to accommodate deflection of the radially inner portion of the cover.

6. In a wheel structure including a multiiiange tire rirn and a load sustaining body portion including an annular axially outwardly projecting reinforcing nose bulge, a hub cap, retaining a means on the wheel body retainingly engageable with the hub cap to hold the hub cap seated on the nose bulge, and a trim annulus for substantially concealing the tire rim and the wheel body radially outwardly from said hub cap, said annulus comprising radially inner and radially outer portions and an intermediate annular radially facing juncture rib of generally S-shaped cross section between the adjacent margins of the secu tions, the inner margin oi the outer section being disposed in substantial axially inwardly oiset relation to the adjacent margin of the inner section by said junction rib, said inner section eX- tending directly and in a substantially continuous, unbroken plane in cross section to and engaging said nose bulge behind the hub cap and clamped to the nose bulge by the hub cap, said inner section being axially deilectable, and said intermediate juncture rib isolating the flexing action of the inner section from the outer section.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,179 Lyon Aug. 22, 1939 2,308,617 Lyon Jan. 19, 1943 2,368,232 Aske Jan. 30, 1945 

